Glyphosate tolerant fescue grasses

Abstract

Glyphosate tolerant fescue (Festuca sp.) grasses are provided. These grasses are particularly suitable for use in lawns, golf courses and other turfs where weeds are a problem. Weed control in areas planted with the disclosed grasses can be achieved by direct application of glyphosate herbicides.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fescue grass plant having the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants grown from a Festuca longifolia (PST-4RU) grass seed deposited as ATCC 209893 or of plants grown from a Festuca arundinacea (PST-5DU) grass seed deposited as ATCC 209894. 
     
     
       2. Seed of a grass plant according to claim 1. 
     
     
       3. Progeny of a grass plant according to claim 1. 
     
     
       4. A fescue grass plant produced by crossing a grass plant according to claim 1. 
     
     
       5. Seed of a grass plant according to claim 3. 
     
     
       6. A method of producing grass seed, comprising (a) planting grass seed according to claim 1 under conditions that result in the germination of the seed, growth of grass plants and setting of progeny seed;   (b) harvesting the progeny seed.   
     
     
       7. A method of producing a glyphosate-tolerant grass plant, the method comprising: (a) crossing a first grass plant with at least one other grass plant to produce progeny seed, wherein the first grass plant is a grass plant according to claim 1;   (b) germinating the progeny seed to produce progeny grass plants; and   (c) screening the progeny grass plants to select a progeny grass plant that is tolerant to glyphosate.   
     
     
       8. A glyphosate-tolerant grass plant produced by the method of claim 7. 
     
     
       9. A glyphosate-tolerant grass plant according to claim 8 wherein the grass plant is tolerant to application of at least 0.056 g per square meter of glyphosate. 
     
     
       10. A glyphosate-tolerant grass plant according to claim 8 wherein the grass plant is tolerant to application of at least 0.112 g per square meter of glyphosate. 
     
     
       11. Festuca longifolia (PST-4RU) grass seed deposited as ATCC 209893. 
     
     
       12. A grass plant produced by growing seed of claim 11. 
     
     
       13. Festuca arundinacea (PST-5DU) grass seed deposited as ATCC 209894. 
     
     
       14. A grass plant produced by growing seed of claim 13.